Athletes foot is a fungus infection that involves the bottom of the feet and is located in between the toes. People with athletes foot typically experience itching first which can be accompanied by burning and sometimes progresses to pain as the fungus destroys the outer layers of skin. It is commonly seen in people who wear constrictive shoes or boots which allow the foot to sweat and get hot, athletes are particularly susceptible to accumulated sweat on their feet and in their shoes. People who use public bathing and showering facilities can come into contact with the fungus and should protect their feet accordingly with some type of thong or rubber slipper. Fungus also love the dark, making sandals an ideal method of exposing the fungus to lethal ultraviolet rays when you are in the sun . If your feet get moist, this also helps the fungus to increase in number, so have dry socks handy and periodically change them. Some of the socks made of newer synthetic materials help to wick the moisture away from the skin, not allowing the fungus to invade the skin. If you are a person whose job or hobby requires the use of constrictive shoes/boots (which create the moist, dark, and wet conditions fungus love) consider the purchase of a shoe dryer, which keeps the inside of the shoe dry, decreasing the likelihood that the fungus will survive). Many of the over the counter sprays and creams may not work, either because they don't attack the correct fungus, or are not strong enough to totally eliminate the fungus. Sometimes athletes foot can be caused by a bacteria rather than a fungus which requires an antibiotic rather than an antifungal. Some conditions such as psoriasis or dermatitis look very much like athletes foot, but are not improved with the use of an antifungal medicine. Your health care provider may give you a prescription for a topical or oral antifungal medicine. If you are using a topical medicine, put it on just before bedtime and cover it with saran wrap for added penetration into the infected skin. Aside from the generalized discomfort associated with athletes foot, it is now accepted that the skin disease is many times the precursor of fungus infection of the toenails, known as onychomycosis, which causes the toenails to become thick, discolored, incurvated and painful. If you have diabetes you need to be particularly concerned with athletes foot because many times the skin damage caused by the fungus can allow bacteria to invade the skin and cause an infection that can be life threatening or require an amputation.
Topical Treatment of Toenail Fungus (onchomycosis)

After your shower or bath, use an emery board to file the toenail down as close to the skin as you can get without irritating the skin under the nail.

When you get ready for bed, apply Spectazole Cream or other type of topical anti-fungal cream or ointment on your toenails and wrap Saran Wrap around the toenails in order to keep the medicine next to your nails all night, instead of it rubbing off and soaking into your sheets.

Wearing socks to bed over the Saran Wrap will help to keep the wrap in place all night.  Tape or Coban (self-sticking tape) can also be used.

Spectazole Cream does require a prescription.  There are also other over the counter anti-fungal products that will also work, such as Lamisil.

You may also choose to go to a Podiatrist every few months to have your toenails professionally filed down with a rotary file.

Keep in mind that your toenails only grow about 1 millimeter per month.  If you are faithful at following this topical treatment, you should be able to get rid of your toenail fungus in about a year.